For Sale7 Bedroom Detached House in Duns, Berwickshire, Scottish Borders, TD11£2,500,000

An historic, Category A-listed house in the Scottish Borders, lovingly restored and set within about 17 acres of gardens and grounds, with beautiful views. Nisbet House is one of the most historically and architecturally significant private houses in the Scottish Borders. Positioned just a few miles from Duns, it represents a fascinating evolution of the Scottish tower house, blending early 17th-century origins with refined 18th-century additions. Set within approximately 17 acres of grounds and surrounded by rolling farmland, the house enjoys a remarkably private and peaceful position with spectacular open views. The house’s south-facing elevation is striking, flanked by cylindrical towers that hint at its early defensive purpose. These are balanced on the north side by two square stair towers, crowned with crow-stepped gables and linked by a central entrance bay carved with the arms of the Ker family and the Nisbet motto ‘Forward’. Built originally for Sir Alexander Nisbet in the 1630s, the house retains numerous 18th-century features, including vaulted ceilings, gun loops, and a spiral stone staircase rising through three floors. In 1774, a dramatic four-storey tower was added, bearing the carved date within a pedimented window surround. Constructed of pink rubble stone, it provides a bold contrast to the white-harled finish of the original house and pays homage to the verticality and theatricality of earlier Scottish towers. Each level of the tower is distinct in character, with Venetian windows at first floor, pedimented on the third, and all topped with battlements, lending great presence when viewed from the drive. Internally, the house extends to over 11,800 sq ft and is laid out across four principal floors, and an attic level. The interiors are elegant but welcoming, with a balance of grand formal rooms and charming family spaces. The first-floor drawing room is particularly impressive, with its high ceiling, tall windows, delicate plasterwork, and carved fireplace. A former hall, now dining room, retains its Georgian scale and connects beautifully to the rest of the house. The kitchen, located in a vaulted former service room, is now a warm and characterful family space with direct access to the garden. Carefully designed with contemporary needs in mind, it offers informal dining, extensive preparation space, and a fine outlook across the lawns. The house offers 7 principal bedrooms, including a generous principal suite with en suite bathroom. Further guest bedrooms are complemented by turrets, ante-rooms, and family spaces across the upper floors. On the top floor, the library, is one of Nisbet’s hidden treasures with a deep neo-Classical frieze, and views to a distant dovecote. The Georgian stable block has been thoughtfully converted to provide four separate cottages, offering flexibility for extended family, guests, or potential income generation. The largest of these is a substantial four-bedroom house with generous living accommodation and period character, ideal as a secondary family home or long-term let. In addition, there are three charming two-bedroom cottages, each with their own distinct layout and features, providing comfortable and well-appointed living spaces. These conversions retain the charm of the original architecture while offering practical, self-contained accommodation in a beautiful courtyard setting. Approached by a private drive that crosses a stream feeding two ponds, Nisbet House is surrounded by mature gardens and grounds extending to about 17 acres. There are sweeping lawns with mature trees, a walled garden, paddocks and woodland, in addition to a terrace. The ponds and the burn form a rich natural habitat for local wildlife. There are beautiful views in all directions enhancing the property’s sense of seclusion. To the rear is a sheltered courtyard, with extensive garaging and outbuildings. With the benefit of later improvements, mains services, modern heating, and broadband connectivity, the house functions superbly as a family home. It is rare to find a house of such historical richness that remains so evidently liveable.